Today is Saturday, September 16. Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17 is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year when Jews reflect on their faith. Friday, September 15 was the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. This month honors Hispanic and Latino Americans for their contribution to U.S. culture. Wednesday, September 20 is He-For-She day, a movement started by the UN with the goal of promoting gender equality. Thursday, September 21 is Mabon, a pagan holiday, and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats celebrated during the year. Mabon celebrates the autumnal equinox. Friday, September 22 is the Autumnal Equinox, this date marks a variety of religious observances across the globe.
Quote of the Week:
“What people want is simple: they want an America as good as its promise – that as a nation we live up to our historical promise of equality of opportunity” Barbara Jordan, African American lawyer, educator, and politican. First southern African -American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; 2/21/1936 – 1/17/1996.
Who was Barbara Jordan? See information below.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barbara-Jordan
EVENTS:
Here is what is going on in the Rochester area:
1. The Urban League’s annual Interrupt Racism Symposium should be on your calendar for September 19 & 20, 2023. Tickets are on sale . See below:
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/summit
2. Bill Wynne shares information on a Boston University hybrid program, Friday, September 22, 8:00 AM – 6:45 PM”Black Media: Reflecting on the Past and Reimagining the Future”
3. Leticia Fortunata shares information on the URMC diversity conference—Boundless Together: The Future of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice! It is on Friday, September 22nd, 2023 from 9am-5pm, at the Joseph Floreano Riverside Convention Center.
4. Richard Glaser shares information on Daniel’s Day, Saturday, September 23, 1:00 PM – 4::00 PM in Rochester, other tiems in Albany and Brooklyn. This is a statewide community building and mental health awareness in memory of Daniel Prude. See below,
5. The Strong Museum of Play has 2 programs of interest in September:
a. Black Dolls, organized by the New-York Historical Society, presents a landmark exhibition that explores handmade Black dolls through the lens of race, gender, and history. Exhibit opens Saturday & Sunday, September 23 & 24 and runs through January 7.
b. National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, Saturday, September 30, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
6. The Anti-Racism Curriculum Project is hosting program titled “Envisioning a Better Future” with 2 films exploring Rochester’s History of Racism. This will be a screening and discussion of the 2 films, “July ’64” and “Home: Access Denied” at the Little Theatre on September 28 at 7:00 PM. There is no cost to entry, but seats are on a first come basis.
7. George Yeodan shares information on a program offered by Harvard’s JFK Jr. program “Truth and Transformation Conference” on October 4, 5:30 – 6:30 PM. See link below.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
8. If you read anything in today’s sharing it should be this item and the following one. This post from Heather Cox Richardson retells the story of bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama 60 years ago yesterday. Thank you for sharing, Dr. Sandy Mayer.
9. Bill Wynne provides information on the work of Tiffany Porter below.
Tiffany Porter doesn’t live too far from me in Fairport and is doing some great work for the marginalized not only in her local community but other suburbs as well. Tiffany’s ‘Being Black in the Burbs’ program, is a grassroots organization focused on highlighting and combating anti-Black racism and discrimination, and poverty, while providing suburban local governments, organizations, and individuals with the tools and resources they need to become anti-racist, including community education, access to anti-racist curricula, and instruction in advocacy for equity. While the group centers and lifts Black and Brown people who live in the suburbs, it also provides material support, aid, and assistance to people of all ethnicities and from all walks of life.
Its MISSION: To combat anti-Black racism and discrimination which is prevalent throughout the suburbs of the Greater Rochester Area. To challenge predominantly white suburban entities — governments, schools, organizations, and communities – to become anti-racist and hold them accountable for providing equity and access for people marginalized by the system of white supremacy.
Its VISION: With a sense of urgency for the future, ‘Being Black in the Burbs’ is a regional leader in the fight for equity, access, and anti-racism. It is equipped to respond “at the moment” to acts of harm and to dismantle systems of oppression while re-imagining, and implementing new ways of providing for the needs of all members of the community.
Its VALUES: Integrity, Innovation, Intersectionality, Sustainability, Justice.
https://www.facebook.com/beingblackintheburbs/
10. Kit Miller shares an article from Rob Schlenger’s website and blog>
11. Richard Glaser shared this article from the NY Times on Bayard Rustin. Richard comments a “remarkable historical figure we will be hearing more about since the Obama’s movie production co. is releasing a biopic soon”.
12. Gary Curwin shares this article on the Chicago teachers union leader slammed for sending child to private school- shows how complex the issues are!!
13. George Yeodon shares an article in The Nation by Adolph Reed, Political Science Prof Emeritus at UPenn, on poverty and inequality.
14. Dr. Frederick Jefferson shares this program offered by St. John Fisher University, “Becoming an Anti-Racist Non-Profit Organization”. See attachment below.
15. We are sharing just 1 item from the latest edition of the CNN Newsletter Race Deconstructed this week (there are 2 more, go to racedeconstructed@newsletters.cnn.com):
Here’s why many Black people despise Clarence Thomas. (It’s not because he’s a conservative.)
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/11/politics/clarence-thomas-black-people-blake-cec/index.html
16. Here are 6 of articles that deal with Race, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week. We list in order of appearance:
a. Lawmakers try to protect statues (Why is it important for some to honor the Confederate past? 2 links below to the full article).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0e5f1676c_134ad22
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=01746e59f_134ad22
b. Man imprisoned since 1998 walks free (Why was the prosecutor and justice system so disinterested in the full story?).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=250e7a8b4_134ad22
c. 5 charged with civil rights violations in Nichols’ death (Policing is a very difficult job but treating suspects humanely should be part of their training).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=19d109b53_134ad25
d. Ahead of High Holidays, Jewish leaders stress need for security amid rise in threats (White Supremacy is at play with anti-semitism and racism, both must be exposed and fought).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=105c35d93_134ad26
e. For HBCUs, bands more than a show (A means to show off their pride and joy with their culture).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0046f021a_134ad27
f. Buffalo massacre tests death penalty (Does our opinion of the death penalty depend on how we view race?).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=02d444785_134ad28
OPPORTUNITIES:
17. Be aware of the Adult Education Services offered by the Action for a Better Community
https://www.abcinfo.org/adult-education-services/
18. Here is an opportunity to give to help support the asylum seekers. The Western NY Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies and Ibero American Action League have organized a donation drive. Please see below.
Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
19. Support the Black Community by supporting their businesses. Please share Black businesses you support and value. A good resource is “Black Owned in Rochester”
Black Owned Businesses Rochester NY Black-Owned In Rochester (blackownedinrochester.com)
a. Looking for a good place for breakfast in the inner loop? Try Granny’s Kitchen – Family Restaurant!
581 E. Main St., Rochester, NY; 585-481-2727
https://www.doordash.com/store/granny’s-kitchen-rochester-2846232/
That is all for this week!
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon Fridays.